Young gun Massey wins at Martin, takes points lead

Press Photo/Adam BirdSpencer Massey takes off from the start during the International Hot Rod Association Northern Nationals on Sunday at Knoll Gas Motorsports Park in Martin.

MARTIN -- West Michigan drag racing fans found out this weekend why there has been so much buzz about Spencer Massey.

Massey, a 20-year-old Nitro Top Fuel rookie from Dallas, put a whipping on the field when the 27th annual International Hot Rod Association Northern Nationals returned to Knoll Gas Motorsports Park for Sunday's final eliminations.

Massey swept all three rounds to capture his third victory of the season in seven starts, and he took over first place in the points standings.

"I'm wearing an armored body suit right now so no one can pinch me," Massey said. "It has been a dream-come-true season, and it keeps unfolding that way. With only three races left and a 41-point lead (over Bruce Litton), it's unbelievable."

Massey made headlines in April when he won his IHRA debut in the season opener in San Antonio, less than a week after receiving his Top Fuel license. He entered this weekend trailing defending champ Litton by two points.

But Massey knocked off Litton in Sunday's semifinals, then beat Terry McMillen of Elkhart, Ind., in the finals. Massey completed the quarter-mile in 4.741 seconds at 312.57 mph, while McMillen coasted across the finish line after experiencing mechanical failure.

"Something malfunctioned inside the clutch system," McMillen said. "As soon as I stepped on the throttle, it just smoked the tires. It shouldn't have done that. We had a better light than him, but it just wasn't meant to be today."

Press Photo/Adam BirdSpencer Massey helps with the tear-down of his motor between races Sunday.

It was Kelley's first career win. The second-year driver beat Paul Lee of Wynnewood, Pa., in the finals after going 263.20 mph in 5.544 seconds. But the race did not start out so well for Kelley, 36.

"It was a lucky educated guess to get this car down a hot race track," Kelley said. "I smoked the tires and I just pedaled it, and was fortunate to catch it quick enough."

"It is unbelievable for someone like us, from a little town called Piedmont in South Carolina, to be in a Nitro Funny Car with just a little bit of help from our sponsors."

It was the fifth win of the season for Cannister, 47, who beat Paul Noakes of London, Ontario. Cannister saw that Noakes had red lighted, and she was home free.

"We have three more races to go, and we are not letting up," Cannister said. "I started off OK, and once I got out there, I started to shake. But I lifted because I saw that he red lighted.

"I have a pretty bad headache and have had it most of the day, and it is probably from all the pressure and tension and heat. But winning helps, and after it all dies down, I'm going to go take a nap."

Huston wins ET class
It was a big weekend for Al Huston of Jenison, who won the ET class. Huston and his 1965 Chevrolet Nova went 131.83 mph in 9.970 seconds to knock off Phil Wrobleski of Plainwell in the finals, which was the final race of the weekend.

Huston earlier won the Top ET division, advancing to the overall finals against Wrobleski, the Mod ET champ.